that up two games later with a try in the controversial 24 points to 22 loss against the Wests Tigers. Two rounds later, in the round 23 match against the Sydney Roosters, Gardner scored the match winning try which sealed an 18 points to 12 victory at Toyota Stadium. During the match he was hit high by Frank-Paul Nu'uausala and then taken out in mid air by Braith Anasta. Both players were placed on report following the incidents. After the match, Sharks coach Shane Flanagan tipped Gardner as a long term fullback for the club despite believing just six months earlier that he was too small to make an impact in first grade due to his small stature. Flanagan praised his bravery by stating "he is one of the toughest players for his size I have ever seen." He scored another try two games later, in a 30 points to 16 victory over the Gold Coast Titans, in the club's last home game of the season. In the final game of the season against the Penrith Panthers, Gardner scored another brilliant individual try again after catching a bomb just ten metres out from his own try line and running almost the length of the field to score. However, it was no more than a consolation try in a game that the Sharks would go on to lose 50 points to 12. Despite playing just 16 first-grade clubs in his debut season, Gardner finished as the club's top try scorer with eight tries. He also kicked 11 goals from 17 attempts making him joint leading point scorer for the club with Luke Covell after finishing with a total of 54 points. He also racked up five assists for the season which put him second at the club behind Trent Barrett. At the 2010 Dally M Awards, Gardner was nominated for the 'Rookie of the Year' but lost out to Matt Gillett of the Brisbane Broncos. He was also nominated for the 'Peter Frilingos Headline Moment of the Year' for his try against the Roosters in round 13 but lost out to Jarryd Hayne who won the award for his try against the Penrith Panthers. He also polled seven points towards the Dally M Medal. In an official NRL online poll Gardner's try against the Roosters in round 13 was voted, by fans, as try of the year. At the club's end